It looks like the Northeast will usher in a white 2014. AccuWeather has details here.

There are no airline delays at the moment. They have issued waivers ahead of the storm, so you can leave early without penalty. Here are two brief articles about how to take advantage of the waivers to avoid the storm: #1 and #2.

For me, the most scientifically interesting item of the year was the El Reno Tornado of May 31. Not only did we lose three highly professional storm chasers, that giant storm with its nearly 300 mph winds will have meteorologists studying it for years.

El Reno Tornado. Wikipedia

And, again, Mother Nature frustrated the global warming doomsayers by refusing to warm earth's atmospheric and sea surface temperatures. Of course, the rest of us found that to be good news.

Unfortunately, there is no way to forecast the weather or climate for 2014. But, rest assured that weather science will be working to keep you informed and your family safe in the new year.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Again in 2013, the world experienced another year where temperatures were well below predicted levels, in spite of ever-rising levels of carbon dioxide.

Now, after a decade and a half of no real warming and temperatures remaining far colder than forecast, we taxpayers can, and should, ask whether governments should continue spending huge ($165 Billion and climbing) amounts of money on something that may not even be a serious threat.

When I saw this piece at climate scientist Dr. Judith
Curry’s blog earlier today, I thought my readers would find it interesting. It includes this link to a paper by Rafaella Hillerbrand and Michael Ghil on the morality of huge global warming expenditures.

Societies (or other subjects) are
able to part only with a certain amount of money or other resources for
predominantly altruistic goals, of which the mitigation of major
changes in future climate is only one. Investing in the mitigation of
climate-change effects means forgoing other investments, e.g. the
reduction of world poverty, towards which we have a moral obligation. For
example, on the one hand, the Stern report famously mentions 1% of global
gross domestic product (GDP) as the sum needed to avoid major hazards
that may arise from climate change. This amounts to an investment of
US $ 450 billion per year, if we base the calculation on the current GDP
value. On the other hand, current estimates of the money needed to provide
80% of rural populations in Africa with access to water and sanitation by
2015 amounts to only US $ 1.3 billion per annum.

So, increasing the already proliferate spending on global warming to a mind-numbing $450 billion per year versus $1.3 billion per year to bring clean drinking water and modern sanitation to most of the people in Africa who need it.

Which is the more worthy cause?

According to UNICEF, 6,000 people, mostly children, die each day in Africa from waterborne diseases and poor sanitation!Put another way, by spending 0.29% of the proposed spending on global warming for a speculative goal (we can really control the weather?), we could save 80% of those deaths by using proven technology!

Think about that number: 2,200,000 lives saved

for less than 1%

of what we are spending on global warming.

Right now, during the Antarctic summer, we have a bunch of global warming zealots stuck in the ice because they believed their own propaganda about the ice shrinking when it is really growing. Three ships have tried to rescue them without success. Think about the pollution this is adding to the region! Their rescuers have been put in harm's way because of the zealots' disregard for the scientific facts.

The gray area is normal extent of Antarctic ice. The blue line, which is above normal,
shows the current extent of the ice.

The light was hitting the Calder mobile just right this morning, so I thought I'd share the view with you. It is in the atrium of the Bank of America Building. AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions' offices are on the 7th floor.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Warnings is written in the style of a novel (much like The Right Stuff, Isaac's Storm, or The Rocket Boys). Consider these reviews (in bold type):

'Warnings' is higly educational, but it reads nothing like a textbook. The writing is engaging and entertaining from cover to cover. Even if you're not yet convinced to buy it for yourself, if you know anyone with an interest in the weather, get it for them as a gift. If you're lucky, they'll let you read it when they're done.

Better storm safety would be a great New Year's Resolution for 2014. After reading Warnings, you'll be better able to protect yourself and your family when a major storm threatens and you will also be highly entertained.

To be quite honest it is the best book I've read in years. I couldn't put it down and read the whole thing in a day and a half. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an exciting book where you can learn something, too.

Take that gift card or Christmas cash and learn why Warnings has a solid 5-Star rating at Amazon.

Two years ago, I had an amazing tour of "Hitsville U.S.A." -- the original Motown Studio where all of their great '60's hits were recorded. Here is my original report.

Great Britain's Guardian has a report on the late Maxine Walters who was put in charge of grooming Motown's young artists. She said the wanted them to be able to have an audience with kings and queens. I think you'll enjoy reading it.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Do you have any doubt that if 2013 had a record high number of tornadoes we would be bombarded with Big Climate proclaiming "woe is us!?" Instead, we have a record low number of tornadoes and we get….. [sound of crickets]

I don't usually talk about storms more than about five to six days away but I think this is worth mentioning because the forecast pattern is similar to the Christmas Eve-Day that brought power losses from Oklahoma to Maine.

Here is the European model forecast for the 5th:

It depicts one vigorous storm over New Mexico and a second over Oregon.

The U.S. GFS model shows a single very powerful storm moving into Oregon.

It is far to soon to get specific as to what may occur. But, I want to let you know there is the potential for a major winter storm the second week of January.

Orange is a blizzard warning currently in effect. Browns are high wind warnings. Winds may gust to 50 mph in these areas. The medium blue is a travel advisory for snow and wind. The lighter blues are warnings of extreme cold (see below). In some areas, wind chills may drop below -50°F.

Friday, December 27, 2013

This informative and very entertaining narrative investigates some of the country's most devastating storms over the past fifty years. In looking to the past, the author shows the effort that went into eventually creating the national severe weather warning system.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

UPDATE: Courtesy of Angela Binyon, here is a view of the above tornado from a second vantage point a few moments before it started twisting itself into a pretzel. Please see the comments for more info.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

According to news reports, more than 1,000,000 people from Oklahoma to Michigan to Ontario and then onto Maine are still without power from this past weekend's ice storm. Today's weather science can make all the difference between a storm that cripples your business or one that has minor effects.

AccuWeather's Enterprise Solutions group specializes in working with our clients to mitigate the effects of this type of extreme weather. You can read more here.

New England began receiving freezing rain on Saturday and it continues today. Deep purple is an ice storm warning. Light purple is a freezing rain advisory for travelers. The blue is a winter weather advisory for travelers due to snow.